Football: After consecutive losses, Exeter looks to get back on track tonight

Friday

Oct 11, 2013 at 2:00 AM

EXETER — In the midst of its first losing streak in years, the Exeter High School football team knows only one way to bury the hatchet.

RYAN O'LEARY

EXETER — In the midst of its first losing streak in years, the Exeter High School football team knows only one way to bury the hatchet.

"We do what we've always done, and that's practice," coach Bill Ball said. "We work hard. That's all you do. We don't dwell on things. You look backwards, it's tough to get ahead."

There's no panic in Exeter's camp, not after it dropped back-to-back games for the first time since 2010 with Friday's 28-6 loss to Nashua South. It was business as usual this week as the Blue Hawks prepared to face Alvirne for the first time in four years.

"We know what we've got," Ball said of his team. "We're optimistic and we have to get better. We're not going to feel sorry for ourselves. We're going to go out and put our best foot forward."

Here's reason for optimism: The Blue Hawks are back on their home turf, a place they haven't lost in 12 straight games. Today marks their first Friday night home game of the season, and it will be a welcomed change of scenery from Stellos Stadium, a recent house of horrors where the Hawks lost to South last week and Bishop Guertin the week before.

They have a new animal to tame in the Broncos. Exeter last faced Alvirne during the 2009 regular season, back when both teams were members of Division II. Those dates ended when Exeter made the jump to Division I in 2010. Subsequently, Alvirne moved down to Division III in 2012.

They've been reunited under the new-look Division I, and Alvirne, one of the league's small-school teams, has been a pleasant surprise under first-year coach Mark Phillips. The Broncos are 1-4 in the West, but three of those losses came by 7 points or less to Timberlane, Winnacunnet and Guertin.

"They play everybody tough, everybody," Ball said. "Mark Phillips over there has done a nice job. They're aggressive. They're athletic. A little bit of option, a little bit of power, a little bit of play action. They run to the ball well on defense.

"They'll run enough option to keep you honest. It will be a challenge. I guarantee you that."

Players to watch

For the Broncos, quarterback Jack Mahoney is a talented junior and senior Jose Rodriguez has been a handful for teams as both a ball carrier and receiver. While Exeter has been stout against the run all season, it's worth noting that Alvirne back Tyler Cabral torched Winnacunnet for 141 yards on just seven carries.

Exeter senior Joey Jones is being used all over the field, from a kick returner to a rusher to a change-of-pace quarterback. Two new targets the Blue Hawks tried to exploit last week was 6-foot-3 senior tight end Stephen Polhemus, a basketball player in the winter, and versatile back/split end Joseph Smyth, who had two receptions and some chances out of the backfield.

Hawk talk

On-field communication, both offensively and defensively, continues to be a major concern for these Blue Hawks. It's been the toughest hurdle for a group that's mostly inexperienced outside of the linemen.

"It's something we have to keep hammering away on," Ball said. "There's a lot of new guys out there for the first time. But you know what? They're not new guys anymore in Week 6. That's old. That doesn't make it. ...; We all have to get on the same page."

Standings watch

Exeter's in need of some positive momentum. The Hawks entered the week in a three-way tie for first in the East with a 3-2 record. After Alvirne tonight, Exeter plays back-to-back road games at conference foes Spaulding and Timberlane before wrapping up with a Nov. 1 home game against Nashua North.

As a whole, Division I has three 5-0 teams (Concord, Bedford, South), two teams at 4-1 (Pinkerton, Guertin) and six at 3-2.

"Just what I said it would be," Ball said of the parity. "Across the board, there's a lot of balance."

Prediction

This home game comes at the perfect time for the Blue Hawks. Their anxious to be back on their home turf. They'll be energized. It's a tall order for an Alvirne team that's allowed at least 20 points in all five of its games this season. Exeter 28, Alvirne 14.

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